Feed, Read, Deed (Part 4 of 4)

Continued from Part 3.

Feed Reed Deed

Ready, set... Go!

I’ll end this series by starting with a quick review. Feed, Read, Deed is a model to process an attack and proceed a defense.

The Feed is how an opponent actually assaults you. The Read is how you optically register and mentally recognize it. The Deed is how you actively respond.

In other words, the Deed is a decisive act based on your best Read of a given Feed. It can range from fright to flight to fight. You may freeze up, take off or face down the threat. Of course, screaming, pleading or fainting is also possible! Continue reading

My Headquarters Visit 2011, Part 6

Sihing Paul Wang Sifu Tony Hollander WingChun

Happy strolling with Sifu Tony in Bordeaux.

Continued from Part 5.

What a WingChun Tour de France!

On Friday, I had the pleasure of reuniting with my IAW-UK counterparts Sifu Ed Pettit and Sifu Tony Hollander. I hadn’t seen them since my 2009 trip to England, where they initiated me in my first glass of genuine Guinness. But even without the easy cheer of beer, I always enjoy their unpretentious company.

Later that evening, I was happy to see Sihing Ralph Dahl who, along with his assistant Sihing Simon Doberanske, drove 11 hours from Frankfurt to join us. Such dedication proven as action taken and obstacles overcome always impresses me. It was invigorating to train with him. As two of Sifu’s senior students, we acknowledged the pleasure of toasting each other as old friends, having first met in 1998 in California. Continue reading

Three Cornerstones

The Three Cornerstones of WingChun.

Recently, I did a poll on Facebook and my blog. I was curious what you wanted to read about. Because of your feedback, I am laying out a vital model. To represent it visually, I created the graphic at the right.

Specifically, I will expand on several of the WingChun Principles and Mottoes written by Sifu Klaus Brand. Composed as concise strategic aphorisms, they deserve further commentary.

I’d like to share my personal experience working with them, starting with Mottoes 3, 4 and 5: Continue reading

WingChun Principles and Mottoes

Most styles of martial art have their own theory of practice. The WingChun system founded by Sifu Klaus Brand and transmitted by the International Academy of WingChun contains certain concepts based on our own research into functional Self-Defense.

These principles coordinate the performance and optimize the effectiveness of our technical movements. Many of them are in stark contrast to, and even conflict with, the ideas of more traditional lineages. We are not seeming iconoclasts for mere difference’s sake. The evolution, or perhaps revolution, of IAW WingChun is towards a theory and practice of Self-Defense unlimited by past doctrine and delineated by present applicability alone.

To paraphrase an old adage:

Theory without practice is fake art,
Practice without theory is dumb art,
Theory with practice is true art.

理論沒有實踐是假功夫,
實踐沒有理論是笨功夫,
理論結合實踐是真功夫。 Continue reading

WingChun System

A diverse demonstration of the unique WingChun system by International Academy of WingChun® (IAW) students and instructors:

MD: Master Degree
TG: Technician Grade
PPL: Pre-Primary Level
SL: Student Level
Sihing: Male Teacher
Sije: Female Teacher
Sifu: Master

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